Lubricating system for needlethread take-up mechanisms



y 23,,1935- G. A. FLECKENSTEIN 2,009,293

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR NEEDLE THREAD TAKE-UP MECHANISMS Original Filed July 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 23, 1935. s. A. FLECKENSTEIN 2,009,293

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR NEEDLE THREAD TAKE-UP MECHANISMS Original Filed July 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 47 g A I 66% 50 20 A 2.5 67/26 66 G'eoye A.Fleckenstein I W4Www= Patented July 23, 1935 UNl'lED sTATEs wnarca'rmo SYSTEM roa-m-zsnm- 1 'rmman TAKE-UP MECHANISMS George A. Fleckenstein,

Stratford, Connl, as

signor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. 1., 'a corporation of New Jersey Original application Indy-11', 1932, Serial- No.1

this,aiili c i 9 ilicbms m 1,193; Serial No -799,253

, This invention relates'to lubricating systems for the needle-thread take-up mechanism of sewing machines and has for :its object-the provi sionof a lubricating system which will constantly supply'lubrication to the thread take-up mechanism of high speed sewing machines.

' with the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several 7 features of theyinvention and the advantages at-.

tained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

This application is a division of application Serial No..621,200, filed July- 7, 1932, which has matured into Patent #1,955,580.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the head, with the face-plate removed, of a sewing' machine having my improved lubricating system embodied therein. Y 1

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig; 1.'

Fig. 31s a side elevation, partly in section showing the'relationof the parts.

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the positions of the lubricant-conducting wicks.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view.

In the embodiment of this invention selected; for illustration, l0 indicates the overhanging arm of a sewing machine which terminates in the usual hollow head it within which is disposedthe-take-up mechanism and the operating means for the needle-bar. As shown, the main shaft 12 is rotatably journaled in a bearing bushing II in the arm II and has secured to its end by the set screws l4 a counterbalancing disk [4 having a rigidly attached crank-pin Ii disposed with its axis offset from the axis of the shaft l2. A needle-bar l6 extending through a suitable bearing I! in the bottom of the head ii is operated by the usual pitman l8 having one of its ends pivoted to the crank-pin i5 and its other end pivotally secured to the needle-bar by the pivot-screw l9. r

The take-up mechanismof the present invention includes a disk rigidly secured to the crank-pin I 5. Adjustably attached to the disk 20 by the elongated slots 2! and screws22 is a second disk 23 formed with a crank-pin 24. Rigidly fixed to the crank-pin 24 is a third disk 25 having a crank-pin 24.

Fixed to the boss 21 on the head set-screw 28 is a headedstud gnzits axis-parallel to the axis ofthe' 'needle-recip-jrocating or main-shaft I2 Mounted; ",eciprocate onthe-stud V2!! is a rocking membe 2 2. hav- :5 ing a split .upstandinglug QIKFigure, *-suit'- ably apertured toreceive-the cylindrical or rod .22 f which is clamped in place b'y thescrew 32. Secured to the rocking-member "Tby'the screw 34 is a take-up arm 35 having its free 1Q end 26 laterally. oifset and theroffset =en d provided with thread-eyes 31. Therod 32 has a pivotal and slidingconnection withthe crank-pin 24. As shown, a bent crank-arm '38 has one of 7 it ends pivotally connected with, theicrankpin m '24 and its other end formed with a' bore arranged transverse to thev axis of the pin- 24, the rod 32 being slidingly fitted in the bore, It will b obvious that asthe shaft 12 is ,rotated the rod 32, rocking'member 3|, and the take-up lever go 35 are oscillated about the stud 29. f On the oppositeyside of the head is anapertured bossfi39 inwhich is secured by. the

set-screw 40 aheaded stud 4| having fixed thereon'a rocking member 43 provided with a depend- 2:,

ing split-lug 44. The rocking :member 43 is apertured- .to receive the cylindrical rod 45 which is held in place ,by the clamping action of the screw 46. .The; cylindrical rod 45 has its free end laterally oifset as shown at "and the offset portionisprovided, with thread-eyes 44. The cylindrical rod 45 constitutes, in effect, a second take-up lever and it is pivotally and slid- "ably connected with the crank-pin 28 bya bent crank-arm 49' having one of its ends pivotally connected to the crank-ping and its-other end formed with 'a-longitudinal bore which slidably receives the rod or take-up lever 45. From the foregoing itwill be observe take-up levers '35 and 45 are oppositely'ldirected, and are fulcrumed toswing concomitantlyin the same directionab'out their horizontal a cs2! and '41 which are disposed at opposite sid'sf of and parallel to the needle-reciprocating shaft' jfl. In other words the take-up levers have'galtemate movements about their pivots simultaneously in a clockwise direction followed by a simultaneous movement in a counterclockwise direction during each rotation of the main-shaft, and that the -take-up levers are actuated from the needle-recip- 50 rocating shaft l2 to and from a position in which the levers are in alignment with each other by a balanced actuating mechanism which is afforded by the provision of diametrically opposite crankpins 24 and 28 carried by the needle-reciprocating ,4

shaft. It will also be observed that the oppositely directed movements of the take-up levers multiply the take-up and slack-giving action upon the thread, thereby requiring only relatively short take-up levers which reduces the vibration of the ends of the levers.

To prevent accidents in case of breakage when the machine is operated at-high speeds, thetakeup levers and their operating means are complete- 1y enclosed in the head of the machine excepting the extensions 36 and 41 by a face-plate 60 having arcuate slots 50' through which the lateral off set ends 36 and 41 of the take-up levers extend.

To provide means for lubricating the bearing, crank-arms and crank-pins, I have provided a lubricant reservoir 68 in the bearing I 3 which may be filled through the plug 6|. The reservoir 66 is filled with waste or other fibrous material which lubricates the shaft I2 direct. Some of the lubricant in the reservoir flows through 'the aperture 62 and along the longitudinal bore 63 r in the shaft 12 thence through the conduit 64 to the crank-pin l5. The-excess lubricant thrown oil by the bearing I3 is collected in a'depression 65 from which it flows by gravity through the lubricant conducting conduit 66' to the lubricant reservoir 61. To lubricate the pivot-pin 29 and the cylindrical rod 32 lubricant-conducting wicks 68 and 68' are provided. The wick 68 has one of its ends depending in the lubricant reservoir 61 and its other end threaded through the duct 68 in the pivotepin 29 which is provided with an aperture 16 through which the lubricant escapes to the bearing surface of the rocking member 30. The wick 68' supplies lubricant to the lubricating pad H which is fixed to the boss'12 on the head of the machine by the screw 13. r

To lubricate the pivot-pin 4| awick 14 is provided having one of its ends depending in the lubricant reservoir 61 and its other end threaded through the longitudinal bore 15 in the pivot-pin 4|. The bore 15 connects with aperture 16 through which the lubricant escapes to the bearing surface of the rocking member 43p A second lubricating pad 11 secured by the screw 19 and plate 80 to the boss 18 on the head H of the machine is provided to lubricate the rod or takeup lever 45. A wick 8| having one of its ends depending, in the lubricant reservoir 61 supplies lubricant to the pad". It will be evident that thelubricant is drawn by capillary attraction from the reservoir 61 through the wicks 68 and 14 to the bearing surfaces of the rocking members 30 and 43, and that lubricant is supplied to the lubricating pads" and 11 by the wicks 68' and 8|. Itwill also be evident that the rods 32 and 45 are lubricated by contacting the lubricating pads 1| and 11 when they rea'ch'their extreme positions as shown in Fig. 1.

To lubricate the bearing surfaces of the crankpins 24 and 26, I have provided two, lubricant conduits .82 and 83 which are secured in suitable apertures in the head of the machine. The con duits 82 and 83 are provided with wicking 84 and 65 which extend out of the free ends of the 'conduits. The hub of the crank-arm 49 (Figure has a lubricant-receiving aperture 86 which communicates with an aperture 81 in the crank-pin 26. The aperture 81 conducts the lubricant to the fiber filled lubricant chamber 88 in the crankpin 26. The crank-pin 24 is provided with a longitudinal bore 88 which is filled with fibrous maducting aperture 90. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the crank-arms 38 and 48 wipe against the wicks'84 and 85 during each revolution and that the lubricant is conducted through the apertures 86 and 96 to the bearing surface of the crank-pins 24 and 26 and to the fiber filled reservoirs 88 and 89 from which it is further distributedto the bearing surface through apertures 81' and 9D. A third lubricant conduit 9| carrying a wick 92 which contacts the periphery of the disk 20 and supplies the disk with a film of lubricant which flows down the side of the disk to further lubricate the crank-pin l5.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the elements employed are susceptible of material variations. The privilege is therefore reserved of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. A balanced take-up mechanism for sewing machines comprising, a plurality of pivot-pins, a plurality of take-up levers pivoted thereon, means for swinging said take-up levers abouttheir pivots, and means for lubricating the bearing surfaces of' said pivot-pins, said lubricating means comprising lubricant-conducting wicks each having one of its ends depending in a lubricant reservoir and the other of itsends threaded through a duct communicating with the bearing surface of its respective pivot-pin.

2. In combination, a sewing machine having a main shaft, a pair of diametrically opposite crank-pins carried thereby, a pair of pivot-pins, a pair of take-up levers pivoted thereon, a pair of crank-arms connecting said take-up levers with said crank-pins, and means for lubricating the bearing surfaces of said crank-pins, said last named means comprising a lubricant reservoir provided with depending wicks and apertures in said crank-arms which receive lubricant from the wicks during each revolution of the main-shaft.

3. A sewing machine having a frame including a. bracket-arm having a rotary shaft journaled therein, said bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head provided with a lubricant-collecting chamber, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocatory needle-bar journaled in said head, a needle-thread take-up member, a mechanism for actuating said take-up member from said rotary shaft, a lubricant-dispensing pad disposed within the hollow head in a position to be intermittently engaged by said take-up actuating mechanism, and alubricant-conducting wick extending from said chamber to said pad.

4. A sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm having a rotary shaft journaled therein, said bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head provided with a lubricant-collecting chamber, stitch-forming mechanism including a member, a guide-rod rigid with said member, a

sleeve slidably embracing said guide-rod, a rotary crank pivotally carrying said sleeve to thereby reciprocate saidsleeve lengthwise of said guiderod to actuate the take-up member, a pad disposed within said head in a position to dispense lubricant to said guide-rod and sleeve, and a lubricant-conducting wick extending from said chamber to said pad. 7

5. A sewing machine having in combination, a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head, a stationary lubricant reservoir cated inte'riorly of said head, a shaft Journalcd in said bracket-arm, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocatory needle-bar. journaled in said hollow head, a needle-thread take-up member, means for actuating said member from said shaft, and a plurality of wicks disposed in the hollow head and extending from said reservoir exteriorly of and to said actuating means for conducting lubricant to said actuating means.

6. A sewing machine having in combination, a

10 frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head, a lubricant reservoir located within said head, a rotary shaft journaled in a bearing in said bracket-arm, a vibratory take-up member, mechanism actuated by said shaft for vibrating said take-up member, said mechanism being disposed above the lubricant reservoir, and wicking for conducting lubricant upwardly by capillary attraction from said reservoir to said mechanism.

GEORGE A. FLECKENSTEIN. 10 

